The Wentworth Estate: Surrey’s smartest ghetto
Living in a ghetto might not sound overly appealing to many given the stereotype of an overcrowded, deprived urban area dominated by a single ethnic or racial group; however in one corner of leafy Surrey, competition to live on the Wentworth Estate, the county’s smartest ghetto, is fierce.
Embracing the official definition of a ghetto (a minority group actively choosing to segregate itself physically and socially from the majority) the Wentworth Estate, located in the heart of Virginia Water, can be thought of a socio-economic ghetto attracting a certain type of resident.
Property prices on the 700 hectare 1920’s W.G Tarrant designed estate give an indication of the wealth of the residents. According to latest figures from Zoopla.co.uk, the average property price in Virginia Water stands at £861,825, over double the average price for property in Surrey (£376,009). Virginia Water also topped the 2011 Zoopla Property Rich List, ranking not only the highest value town in Surrey but across England also.
James Wyatt, Partner of award-winning family estate agency, Barton Wyatt, which specialises on the Wentworth Estate, comments,
“Living and working on the Wentworth Estate I have first-hand knowledge of the community. Residents come from all over the world not only from nearby Virginia Water but Russia, Malaysia, USA, Ukraine and even Kazakhstan; their nationalities may differ but the one commonality is affluence and a great deal of it!
“There are a number of wealthy enclaves within Surrey such as Cobham, Esher or Oxshott but people actively choose to reside on the Wentworth Estate due to the available green space, the luxurious properties, first-class amenities on hand at the Wentworth Club, easy access to London, low crime rate and most importantly the privacy and security for which they are prepared to pay a high price.”
Indeed the Wentworth Estate has become somewhat of a global brand in its own right with estate agents such as Barton Wyatt seeing a significant increase in overseas buyers keen to associate themselves with the prestigious location and rub shoulders with other celebrity residents such as Sir Bruce Forsyth, Sam Torrents, Eddie Jordan and F1 mogul Ron Dennis, numerous captains of industry and a smattering of foreign royalty.
As James Wyatt comments,
“Whilst other markets suffered during the recession, the Wentworth Estate remained in a somewhat of a bubble with demand for existing homes remaining high, new mega mansions being constructed and very few price corrections seen. We have in fact seen prices rise over the last year, following the trend in London with property prices on the Estate now averaging £2.5 million.”
One example of a luxurious mansion which was commissioned and constructed during the recession and is now on the market is Sena. Comprising a stunning contemporary layout internally, Sena is situated in one of the most prestigious roads on the Wentworth Estate. On the market for £6,500,000 Sena offers seven bedrooms, seven bathrooms, four reception rooms, staff flat, gardens of just over one acre and three car garage. Not bad for a ghetto!
For more information on buying on the exclusive Wentworth estate contact Barton Wyatt on 0134 484 3000 or visit www.bartonwyatt.co.uk.